Michigan State University
Eastern Mich
MSU Softball Thumps Eastern Michigan, 8-1
4/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2003
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Sophomore Stephanie Christner (Sigourney, Iowa) pitched a one-hitter and eight different Spartans recorded hits as the Michigan State softball team rolled to an 8-1 victory Tuesday at Eastern Michigan. Michigan State improved to 22-9 with the victory, while Eastern Michigan slipped to 3-22.
Christner struck out four and walked just two while improving to 5-4 this season. She held the Eagles hitless until a two-out infield single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Senior Sandy Lewis (Empire, Mich.) had two hits including a triple, drove in two runs and scored twice to lead the MSU offense. Junior Natalie Furrow (San Diego, Calif.) also had two hits for the Spartans. Eight different players had at least one hit for MSU, and seven different Spartans scored.
MSU got off to a quick start, scoring four times in the top of the first inning. Lewis put down a squeeze bunt scoring senior Margaret Schick (Grass Lake) for the first run. Later, with the bases loaded, junior Brittney Green (Simi Valley, Calif.) lined out to left, scoring Lewis. The throw home was cut off by the Eagle third baseman, who tried throwing to second base to double off an MSU runner, but the throw rolled all the way to the right field wall and two more runs raced around to score.
The Spartans added two more runs in the second, when junior Jessica Beech (Okemos) tripled to centerfield with two outs scoring sophomore Janette Hurtado (Rowland Heights, Mich.), and Beech came in on a single to right-center by Lewis.
MSU added a single run in the top of the sixth. Senior Lacy Hauxhurst (Westminster, Calif.) led off with a double, and advanced to third on a single to right by junior Angel Merren (Wayland). When the throw from right field came home after Merren's hit, Merren took off for second and was thrown out, but Hauxhurst came home to score when the catcher's throw went to second base.
Michigan State notched its final run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Lewis tripled to right center, and one out later, scored on a single to right by Furrow.
Michigan State will return to the road Thursday (April 3), when the Spartans visit Western Michigan for a single game beginning at 4 p.m.
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